Round hole acoustic luthiery archtop guitar Manouche Gypsy

The instrument is new and classified as an ex-demo guitar. It is sold at a reduced price due to a small scratch on the edge of the body and a slight finish imperfection where the base of one tuning machine rests on the headstock. Photos of the area in question are available.

This guitar, in a super-jumbo format, is clearly inspired by the archtop acoustic instruments that appeared at the beginning of the last century, featuring a central round sound hole, prior to the advent of the flat-top acoustic guitars we commonly see today. The challenge was to create a model that is versatile in its acoustic performance while still oriented toward a Manouche and Gypsy jazz repertoire. I believe this goal has been achieved without sacrificing or limiting the expressiveness of the instrument.

All the archtop models presented on these pages are entirely handmade by luthier Emanuele D'Alò, founder of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments come with a lifetime warranty, and both the soundboards and backs are hand-carved from quarter-sawn solid wood.

Further info at: shankinstruments.com/en/product/beluga/

• Soundboard: spruce solid wood, handcarved
• Back: mahogany solid wood, handcarved
• Sides: mahogany
• Size: 17″
• Height sides: 4,7″
• Neck: spanish cedar (cedrela), C shape. Height 1st fret  0,88″ (22,5 mm)
• Fretboard: rosewood, 20 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 12″
• Bracing soundboard: X
• Diapason: 25 1/2″
• Nut: 1,75″ – Bone
• Pickup: Surdo Pickups - Low impedance - XLR
• Bridge: rosewood
• Finish: acrilic satin
• Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)